Politics

Google has been fined €145,000 (around $189,000) for what a regulator called “one of the biggest data protection rules violations known.” The fine comes after it was proved Google’s Street View cars illegally collected data from open Wi-Fi networks between 2008 – 2010. German prosecutors dropped criminal proceedings against the search giant last fall after Continue Reading →

Last week Vine made its debut in the political world with the fist 6-second animated attack ad. On Monday, the White House joined the Vine bandwagon, publishing its first Vine through its official Twitter account. The Vine was posted to announce the annual White House Science Fair, an event at which President Barack Obama invites Continue Reading →

It’s well known that it’s not okay to text while driving, and presumably the same should apply to tweeting, checking email or most other cellphone interactions. But what about checking driving directions or looking at a map? After all, lots of cars have built-in navigation systems, and plenty of those are touch-controlled. It’s still not Continue Reading →

A recently released Pew study declared, “The reaction on Twitter to major political events and policy decisions often differs a great deal from public opinion as measured by surveys.”  Sometimes Twitter reaction is more liberal than public opinion, sometimes more conservative, said Pew.  But when it comes to Twitter reaction regarding the 2012 elections and President Obama’s Continue Reading →

A federal appeals court has ruled that Aereo’s TV-anywhere service doesn’t violate copyright law, opening the door for the startup to expand a service that lets consumers watch television on their mobile device for as low as $1 a day. The decision amounts to a major victory for cord cutters and could hasten the end Continue Reading →

While the U.S. may not be quite ready to formally decide constitutional issues à la Iceland (Overcoming a Meltdown with Social Media), it is becoming apparent that social media plays an ever increasing role in shaping U.S. policy, governmental agendas, and even the outcomes of elections. This week, in preparation for the Supreme Court review Continue Reading →

Google may be getting Glass’s fashion situation under control by partnering with Warby Parker, but Glass’s potential to be dangerously distracting still seems like a problem. And where there’s a problem, West Virginian legislators know to step in with preemptive regulation. Apparently. Inspired by a CNET review of Glass, Gary G. Howell, a member of Continue Reading →

Technology is changing how we do everything, from connecting with friends to investigating our family history. While most of these changes are for the better, the reality is that many of these new technologies expose us to serious privacy risks, especially as legislation has struggled to keep up. Yet both here in the U.S. and Continue Reading →

The politically delayed confirmation of Chuck Hagel to become the Secretary of Defense could well be a pivot point, and an essential one, for the future of the Department.  It is time for this most important arm of the government to become more aligned with 21st Century realities. Much of the thinking in the United Continue Reading →

Seemingly dozens of startups exist which try to make sense of Twitter sentiment, and Twitter itself has been trying hard to portray its sentiment data as an accurate reflection of public opinion. However, Pew Research Center — among the gold standards of public research polling — says it might be all for naught. Pew compared Continue Reading →